Senior Library Books
Resource Key
When accessing content use the numbers below to guide you:
LEVEL 1
brief, basic information laid out in an easy-to-read format. May use informal language. (Includes most news articles)
LEVEL 2
provides additional background information and further reading. Introduces some subject-specific language.
LEVEL 3
lengthy, detailed information. Frequently uses technical/subject-specific language. (Includes most analytical articles)
Linked Databases
- Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre Plus This link opens in a new window
This resource provides the largest collection of full text from leading regional and international newspapers and periodicals, full-text reference books, tens of thousands of full-text biographies, and a collection of images containing more than one million photos, maps, and flags.
- Britannica Schools This link opens in a new window
Britannica School covers the core subject areas of English, Maths, Science and History. Interactive lessons, activities, games, stories, worksheets, manipulatives, study guides and research tools.
Introduction
Welcome to the research guide for Physics: Forces, Our Solar System and The Universe. This guide has been created to assist Year 10 students researching the benefits of the applications of Physics for solving world problems.
"Physics is defined as the science of matter, motion, and energy. Its laws are typically expressed with economy and precision in the language of mathematics. Classical physics, can largely account for the motions of macroscopic objects that move slowly with respect to the speed of light and for such phenomena as heat, sound, electricity, magnetism, and light. The modern developments of relativity and quantum mechanics modify these laws insofar as they apply to higher speeds, very massive objects, and to the tiny elementary constituents of matter, such as electrons, protons, and neutrons." (Britannica, 2017)
Physics: Motion and Energy
TWIG. (n.d.). Physics: motion [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www-twig-world-com.db.plcscotch.wa.edu.au/film/glossary/motion-730/
Physics Websites
- BBC Bitesize. (2017). Physics. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zpm6fg8Physics is the study of energy, forces, mechanics, waves, and the structure of atoms and the physical universe. In this section of BBC Bitesize you'll find learner guides and video clips designed to support the Physics curricula.
- The Physics Classroom. (2017). The Physics classroom topics. Retrieved from http://www.physicsclassroom.com/classThe Physics classroom tutorial contains a set of instructional pages written in an easy-to-understand language and complemented by graphics and Check Your Understanding sections. An ideal starting location for those grasping for understanding or searching for answers.
- NASA. (2017). NASA for students. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/index.htmlNASA's education program strives to "inspire and motivate students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics" by supporting education in the Nation's schools and to "engage the public in shaping and sharing the experience of exploration and discovery" by supporting informal education and public outreach efforts.
- Urone, P. & Hinrichs, R. (2012). College Physics. Retrieved from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/physics/Applications of Physics. You need not be a scientist to use physics. On the contrary, knowledge of physics is useful in everyday situations as well as in nonscientific professions. It can help you understand how microwave ovens work, why metals should not be put into them, and why they might affect pacemakers. This website contains a wealth of information on all applications of physics.
- DailyScience. (2017). Physics. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/matter_energy/physics/Your source for the latest research news on Physics.
- BBC. (2015, March 30). Latest news on the science and environment. Retrieved from http://beta.bbc.com/news/science_and_environment/BBC Science and Environment provides the latest news, developments and feature articles in Science.
- Veritas Tutors. (2012). Physics. Retrieved from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/physics/This guide will teach you a number of concepts and techniques to help you ace your physics class with less overall work. We place a strong emphasis on understanding concepts, not just memorizing formulas and example problems. This is not only a better way to learn physics, but it is actually an immensely more efficient way to learn physics.
Australian Institute of Physics
- Australian Institute of Physics. (2107). About the AIP. Retrieved from http://aip.org.au/about-the-aip/The Australian Institute of Physics promotes the role of Physics in research, education, industry and the community. This website contains information on each of these areas.
Key Terms
- displacement Displacement is distance moved in a particular direction. Its unit is m.
- energy Energy enables something to do physical work involving the application of a force.
- force A push or pull between objects which may cause one or both objects to change speed and/or the direction of their motion (i.e. accelerate) or change their shape. Scientists identify four fundamental forces: the gravitational, the electromagnetic (involving both electrostatic and magnetic forces), the weak nuclear forces and the strong nuclear forces. All interactions between matter can be explained as the action of one, or a combination, of the four fundamental forces.
- gradient the degree of inclination, or the rate of ascent or descent, in a highway, railroad, etc.
- gravity the force of attraction by which terrestrial bodies tend to fall toward the center of the earth. An alloy, such as steel or bronze, made of two or more metals. In astronomy, any atom except hydrogen and helium. Small stones or gravel, mixed with tar to form tarmac for the surfacing of roads.
- inertia the tendency of an object to resist changes in its motion (Pearson, 2017).
- kinetic energy the energy of a moving body (Pearson, 2017).
- mass A measure of the amount of matter in an object. (Do not confuse mass with weight*.)
- Newton's First Law of Motion An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.
- Newton's Second Law of Motion The second law states that the acceleration of an object is dependent upon two variables - the net force acting upon the object and the mass of the object. The acceleration of an object depends directly upon the net force acting upon the object, and inversely upon the mass of the object. As the force acting upon an object is increased, the acceleration of the object is increased. As the mass of an object is increased, the acceleration of the object is decreased.
- Newton's Third Law of Motion For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
- oscillate To and fro motion about an equilibrium position; characterised by the period of its motion or velocity and acceleration at different positions as it moves.
- potential energy the energy of a body or a system with respect to the position of the body or the arrangement of the particles of the system.
- reaction distance the distance travelled while a driver responds to a hazard (Pearson, 2017)
- reaction time the length of time it takes a driver to respond to a hazard (Pearson, 2017)
- speed the rate of change of distance
Albert Einstein
- Albert Einstein. (2017). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from http://school.eb.com.au.db.plcscotch.wa.edu.au/levels/high/article/Albert-Einstein/106018Albert Einstein, (born March 14, 1879, Ulm, Württemberg, Germany—died April 18, 1955, Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.), German-born physicist who developed the special and general theories of relativity and won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect. Einstein is generally considered the most influential physicist of the 20th century.
Isaac Newton
- Sir Isaac Newton. (2017). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from http://school.eb.com.au.db.plcscotch.wa.edu.au/levels/high/article/Sir-Isaac-Newton/108764#12245.tocSir Isaac Newton, English physicist and mathematician, who was the culminating figure of the scientific revolution of the 17th century. In optics, his discovery of the composition of white light integrated the phenomena of colours into the science of light and laid the foundation for modern physical optics. In mechanics, his three laws of motion, the basic principles of modern physics, resulted in the formulation of the law of universal gravitation. In mathematics, he was the original discoverer of the infinitesimal calculus.
Hubble
- Edwin Hubble. (2017). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from http://school.eb.com.au.db.plcscotch.wa.edu.au/levels/high/article/Edwin-Hubble/41368Edwin Hubble, in full Edwin Powell Hubble, (born November 20, 1889, Marshfield, Missouri, U.S.—died September 28, 1953, San Marino, California), American astronomer who played a crucial role in establishing the field of extragalactic astronomy and is generally regarded as the leading observational cosmologist of the 20th century.